Review
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World J Dermatol. Aug 2, 2013; 2(3): 16-26
Published online Aug 2, 2013. doi: 10.5314/wjd.v2.i3.16
Stress involvement as trigger factor in different skin conditions
Liana Manolache, Dana Petrescu-Seceleanu
Liana Manolache, Dermatology Department, Dali Medical, 062079 Bucharest, Romania
Dana Petrescu-Seceleanu, Dermatology Department, Nicolae Kretzulescu Medical Center, 062079 Bucharest, Romania
Author contributions: Manolache L and Petrescu-Seceleanu D contributed equally to the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Liana Manolache, MD, PhD, Dermatology Department, Dali Medical, Str. Cetatea Histria nr. 12, sector 6, 062079 Bucharest, Romania. lianamanolache@yahoo.com
Telephone: +40-723-227427 Fax: +40-214-121980
Received: May 9, 2012
Revised: November 29, 2012
Accepted: December 6, 2012
Published online: August 2, 2013
Abstract

Dermatological conditions are intimately related to stress. There was a great interest in this field in the last years. Stress could be involved as a trigger factor for a lot of cutaneous diseases: alopecia areata, psoriasis, vitiligo, lichen planus, acne, atopic dermatitis, urticaria. For other conditions: seborrheic dermatitis, hyperhydrosis, herpes, pemphigus, a.s.o, there are anecdotal notices. On the other hand, the skin disease itself could induce a secondary stress for the patient, influencing his quality of life. The stress per se is less important than the “perceived stress”, the patient’s perception of the stressful situation. This perception could be influenced by the psychological state of the patient. Anxiety, depression could change the perception of the event. It is important to take care of these aspects during the consultation. A good cooperation with psychiatrist or/and psychologist could improve the results, besides the specific therapy.

Keywords: Stress; Alopecia areata; Vitiligo; Psoriasis; Lichen planus; Acne; Urticarial; Atopic dermatitis